It has been said that wrinkles tell the story of your life...how much you have laughed, how much you have cried and the many things you have endured or achieved. For most people in this modern day and age, the mission to keep them at bay is foremost, perhaps even causing wrinkles of its own.

Apart from life, there are some other factors that contribute towards lines and folds in the skin on the face. Sun damage, smoking, dehydration, as well as a number of other factors may cause wrinkles to develop. Wrinkles are an inevitable part of the ageing process and as we become older our skin becomes thinner and less elastic. There is a way to keep the wrinkles under control...

The injection of botulinum toxin, more commonly known as Botox, has become a very popular choice for reducing wrinkles and rejuvenating the ageing face. The effects are only temporary, but the injections can be done quickly, require no recovery time, and are not as complicated as many other cosmetic procedures for the face.Botulinum toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. When a small amount of Botox is injected into a muscle, it blocks nerve signals that tell your muscles to contract. The effect is that it temporarily weakens or paralyzes the facial muscles and smooths or eliminates wrinkles in the skin for a few months.Getting a Botox injection takes just a few minutes and is relatively painless when administered by a professional such as Dr Gavin Zipp at Zipp Health.

What to expect?* The area is cleaned and an anaesthetic cream is administered to numb the area. The patient can relax while the cream takes effect.* Dr Zipp will mark out the areas you choose to treat by asking you to frown and smile to see which wrinkles need attention.* The desired amount is then administered, relatively pain free and in no time at all.

For the first 2 to 3 hours after treatment, don't overdo it, no gym for 24 hours and do not rub the treated area. After that, you can get back to your normal everyday routine.It can take 3 to 4 days before you notice an effect from the Botox and the full effect may take up to 1 week. The results may last from 3 to 4 months on average but sometimes up to 6 months, everyone is different. After that, you will begin to see the wrinkles return.Within 72 hours of the treatment, the injection of Botox partly and sometimes completely smooths wrinkles for most people. But, the results are temporary, and typically last only 3 to 4 months. You will need to return for injections every 3 to 4 months to keep the effect. The dose of Botox is usually the same each time you get it done. Dr Zipp will however advise you on each of your subsequent visits based on your needs.

To book your consultation with Dr Zipp, call Zipp Health now on (011)792 1616 or check out the website.